Colombia election dispute: President Petro alleges Israeli hacking of vote count

Outgoing President Gustavo Petro said election software used in Colombia's presidential vote was compromised, alleging that changes to IP addresses on National Registry servers indicate an Israeli hack. Petro called for a full recount and an independent audit, accusing Israel as the only state capable of such a breach.

Preliminary results showed right‑wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella winning with 49.66% of the vote against leftist Senator Iván Cepeda's 48.70%, a narrow margin in a turnout of over 63 %. De La Espriella, endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has pledged to restore diplomatic ties with Israel, reversing Petro's earlier severance. Petro also raised concerns about alleged manipulation of E‑14 ballot forms by the Bautista brothers' firm that developed the election software.

The accusations come as the country's electoral authorities prepare for the official scrutiny phase, which will verify all claims and determine the final outcome.